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  #21  
Old 04-03-2013, 09:21 AM
rwhittier rwhittier is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Glendale, AZ
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Default That's me

I am one of the builders in that article (I do not know the guy from Mesa). They got my number from our EAA website, which I am chapter president of... I know enough from my pre retirement media training to be skeptical, very skeptical. A couple of blanks I can fill in. The reporter already had the Stern Lancair 4 crash in mind (that was a big deal around here) and had found the FAA data on experimental crash rates. So where he was headed was not good, you know, experimentals are killing unknowing pilots... He already had the information we dread having incorrectly portrayed and publicized. I asked him if he was open to the counterpoints. He seemed to be. I provided data from other studies and asked that he read it before we talked more. He asked if he could see my project. I agreed.

I made sure he saw Van's build drawings (the whole stack and the one that I was doing at the time). And tools, books, parts, raw materials and then things made from those raw materials, etc... My project, which is wired, rolls around and is starting to look like an airplane instead of a pile of parts was probably at a perfect stage for a non builder to see. He was fascinated by the work and the level of complexity to build it. I powered up the panel, which is pretty well equipped. I wanted to demonstrate this is not unknowing and unregulated, we talked for quite a while. I covered the DAR inspection process. He realized this is not a simple and scary case of a guy with a toolbox just fooling around in the garage and then going out flying to endanger folks on the ground.

In the end I "think" I turned what could have been a negative piece into something neutral, probably better than neutral. At least he saw it as a legitimate activity that, while having some inherent risks, is not a willy nilly free for all and is not as unsafe as the general public thinks.

As you pointed out, the title is generated by someone else to be eye grabbing, I wish I could have influenced that. But otherwise I am pleased how it went and I think the piece served our community well.

Others comments in this thread are right, little planes scare people. Most think we are nuts to build a plane let alone actually fly it. But if we educate others about what we are doing and how we take it seriously we win. We won't convert them to becoming pilots or builders. But we can convert them from blindly scared of what we do to at least respecting it. Even if they choose not to join, they will not join the chorus against us.

Thanks for the feedback.

Quote:
Originally Posted by LettersFromFlyoverCountry View Post
The Arizona Republic story is...err... interesting. Particularly the part about noting the crash of a Mooney, indicating it's not experimental, but then saying experimental aircraft are a concern.

That said, the article is actually pretty fair and balanced. The headline is usually not written by the reporter, but by some slob in a cubicle who usually can't tell you if it's daylight out or not.

I don't know Roger Whittier, the RV builder in the piece, but I'd like to thank him for at least trying to provide the reporter with some guidance that I think held some sway in the piece itself.
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  #22  
Old 04-03-2013, 09:47 AM
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walkman walkman is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Toobuilder View Post
I "experiment" with my airplane all the time. Trying new fairings, scoops or other mods trying to eke out a little more speed, power, economy, comfort, etc. I embrace the moniker, and I have never had a passenger about to climb in, see the "EXPERIMENTAL" lettering, and then withdraw.
****, I did that with my certified airplane.
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  #23  
Old 04-03-2013, 12:44 PM
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pierre smith pierre smith is offline
 
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When I give newbies a ride in my -10 and they ask where it was made, I tell them, Big Fork, Montana, by three guys.
They usually ask, "Not built by a factory?" My usual response is, "No, better..you see, these guys really wanted to build this airplane. The factory guys have to do it to make a living."

Best,
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  #24  
Old 04-03-2013, 01:05 PM
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Bob Kuykendall Bob Kuykendall is offline
 
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Location: Douglas Flat, CA
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rwhittier View Post
...In the end I "think" I turned what could have been a negative piece into something neutral, probably better than neutral. At least he saw it as a legitimate activity that, while having some inherent risks, is not a willy nilly free for all and is not as unsafe as the general public thinks.

As you pointed out, the title is generated by someone else to be eye grabbing, I wish I could have influenced that. But otherwise I am pleased how it went and I think the piece served our community well...
Roger, thank you for taking the time and effort to represent homebuilt aviation in a positive light!
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  #25  
Old 04-03-2013, 05:48 PM
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AZtailwind AZtailwind is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rwhittier View Post
I am one of the builders in that article (I do not know the guy from Mesa).
Roger,

Thanks for the time out to get that "other side" out there.
I've had 3 copies of that article come by my office today.
Everyone around here knows I'm more of a "risk taker" (re- NUTS)
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  #26  
Old 04-03-2013, 11:04 PM
Spindrift Spindrift is offline
 
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Location: Portland, OR
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rwhittier View Post
little planes scare people.
I would actually say "planes scare people." Just today a coworker told me a story of a commercial flight on a widebody into Munich that had to go-around due to traffic still on the runway. When the plane pulled up with the throttles firewalled, even one of the stoic Lufthansa flight attendants screamed, and the rest of the flight around the pattern everyone was scared for their lives. Sad that when a pilot makes an important safety call, people are afraid versus relieved.

Anyway, great job turning what could have been really bad press into a generally favorable article, headline notwithstanding.
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  #27  
Old 04-04-2013, 06:48 AM
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LettersFromFlyoverCountry LettersFromFlyoverCountry is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rwhittier View Post
He was fascinated by the work and the level of complexity to build it. I powered up the panel, which is pretty well equipped. I wanted to demonstrate this is not unknowing and unregulated, we talked for quite a while. I covered the DAR inspection process. He realized this is not a simple and scary case of a guy with a toolbox just fooling around in the garage and then going out flying to endanger folks on the ground.
Booya!!!!! This is exactly how we change the perception in the media. It's completely opposite that stupid AOPA "don't talk to reporters, just tell them to call us!" nonsense in that "how to handle the media" handout they gave out.

Inside every reporter, there's the little boy (or girl) who wanted to fly. Tap into that. Take a reporter flying, establish a relationship, let them know there IS another perspective. The luck here is that the reporter and Roger found their way to each other. The only additional suggestion I'd make is get into their Rolodexes (or whatever) before the story ever gets assigned to them.

Again I say, very well done, sir! I demand the opportunity to shake your hand.

By the way, how to talk to the media would be a GREAT forum at Oshkosh. If anyone from EAA is listening.
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Last edited by LettersFromFlyoverCountry : 04-04-2013 at 06:52 AM.
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  #28  
Old 04-04-2013, 07:27 AM
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DanH DanH is online now
 
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Well done Roger.

Quote:
By the way, how to talk to the media would be a GREAT forum at Oshkosh. If anyone from EAA is listening.
Bob, you're a good candidate to do the forum. And you could team with Roger, who clearly understands. Why not go for it?
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  #29  
Old 04-04-2013, 08:32 AM
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LettersFromFlyoverCountry LettersFromFlyoverCountry is offline
 
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Thanks, Dan. I'm sending a note over to EAA today.
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  #30  
Old 04-04-2013, 09:17 AM
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Ironflight Ironflight is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LettersFromFlyoverCountry View Post
Thanks, Dan. I'm sending a note over to EAA today.
I hope you get a chance to do it Bob - you have a unique perspective that can help everyone on both sides of the aisle. If there is one thing that I learned in 30+ years on the "interviewee" side of the microphone, it is that 95% of all the journalists really want to do a fair and balanced story, but they didn't spend their life learning aviation - they spent it learning how to write. They are blank canvases, empty sponges, waiting to be filled. We need to do our best to fill them honestly and truthfully, with rational statements and arguments - that's the best way to get "good press". The vast majority of the media is not our enemy - they just haven't yet been informed.

Of course, there are always that 5% we have to watch out for....just like the 5% of pilots you don't want to meet in the traffic pattern....
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